Lexus Hoverboard Is Awesome!

Remember that scene from Back To The Future II, where Marty McFly sticks up for his ‘teenage father’ after Biff caused a stir in the milkshake shop? Marty McFly tried to escape on a hoverboard but Biff had other tricks up his sleeve? A rocket powered hoverboard. Okay, we’re not quite at rocket jets on the side but a hoverboard all the same is unbelievably cool.

Car giants Lexus have done just that. A real life hoverboard, and in the same year as the film predicted. It’s all part of Lexus’ new project in their Amazing in Motion campaign.

The hoverboard has been in development for 18 months and has been tested for weeks in a special hoverboard specific skatepark in Barcelona.

The board was built-in conjunction with magnetic levitation specialists IFW Dresden and evico GmbH. The ‘hoverpark’ was built using 200 metres of magnetic track placed underneath the ground. The video Slide demonstrates the hoverboard pulling off different stunts as well as zooming across a water-bed, something that Marty McFly had trouble with in the movie.

Dr Oliver de Hass, CEO of evico, said: “The magnetic field from the track is effectively ‘frozen’ into the superconductors in the board, maintaining the distance between the board and track – essentially keeping the board in a hover. The force is strong enough that the rider can stand and even jump on the board.”

Mark Templin, Executive Vice President Lexus International, said: “We set out to push the boundaries of technology, design and innovation to make the impossible possible, collaborating with partners who share our passion for creating enjoyment out of motion.

“As we combined our technology and expertise, we discovered that making a hoverboard isn’t an easy process. We’ve experienced highs and lows and have overcome a few challenges, but through mutual determination we have created a demonstration of our philosophy in design and technology to create Amazing in Motion.”